Donald Teuma-Castelletti
BRISTOL Jan. 19, 2019
While some may call them crazy, local skiers and hikers donning snowshoes took advantage of the weekend weather to traverse a perfectly groomed trail Saturday night, guided solely by moonlight and torches.
With a kilometre and a half of trail, plenty of trees to protect against the wind and the chance to join fellow winter activity enthusiasts, Ski Pontiac’s Moonlight Ski and Snowshoe proved a popular outing for a cold January evening in Bristol.

“Every month when there’s a full moon, we try to have a torchlit, moonlight cross country ski and snowshoe event here in Bristol,” said Kevin Seidel, one of the organizers. “We try to encourage everyone to come out and participate in some winter events.”
When the temperatures dropped as far as they did this weekend, Ski Pontiac members knew they could expect to see less joining them. Yet, Seidel maintained, the trail was situated for maximum comfort, blocking the cutting winds while still offering a sneak peek into the wilderness of Bristol.
“We can’t always judge the weather, but it’s actually not cold when you’re out on the trail,” said Seidel. “You’re kind of in the forest and … as you’re moving and you’re snowshoeing, you don’t need it to be warm.”
Preparations for the evening start early in the morning, as the prep crew filled the torches with fuel, marked out the trail and got it all groomed. This, some of the volunteers added, is a great bit of fun, as they can enjoy the social aspect, sunshine and anticipate the evening’s guests.
In total, Seidel said they hoped to see 75 people join their ranks that evening, whether they skied or not. Guests were still encouraged to join their numbers at the Coronation Hall – the evening’s host – for a hot meal to keep them well-fueled.
Those that missed out on Saturday’s fun can still look forward to using the trail, as Ski Pontiac members try to groom it every Friday for weekend use. As well, the group has plans for another moonlight ski starting at 5 p.m. on Feb. 16.